One of the first things that you will notice as you walk or drive through Abbeville is that it has 3 square blocks in the center of town.
According to Charlene Beckett, the manager of Main Street Abbeville, the city’s founder “Father Antoine Megret was from Abbeville, France and so when he purchased all the property he wanted to make his town similar to towns in France and so he reserved 3 different squares. One for the Church, one for the courthouse and [a] park, which had to always stay a public space.”
Heading east from Shucks across the river the first square you will encounter is Saint Mary Magdalen Church.
The current church is the fourth church for the parish and was built in 1911.
Next to the Church is Magdalen square which is a beautiful public park in the middle of town.
The park is always busy with people enjoying the shade from the live oaks, the gazebo or sitting next to the fountain.
Magdalen square is also used for many different town events from concerts, to rallies and weddings.
The last square houses the Vermilion Parish Courthouse which was built in the 1950s and designed by a famous Louisiana architect A. Hays Town.
The courthouse has a plantation style design with the front having a more Greek temple look with 6 huge columns.
To go along with the 3 main squares Abbeville also has many other cool and interesting builds located throughout downtown including the Depot, Frank’s Theater, Abbey Theater, and city hall in the old Audrey Hotel.